Electrical switching apparatus



1943- K. A. OPLENGER 2,326,060

ELECTRICAL SW ITCHING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1942 -fl56 40 0 68 4 A 6WITNESSES: 64 65 INVENTOR w wd. W6?

Patented Aug. 3, 1943 mghouse Electric .& Manufacturing Company, EastPittsburgh, .Pa., a corporationof Pennsylyan'ia Application May 13,1942, 'SeriallNo.-4 2;772

7 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical switching apparatus.

-It is an object of this invention to provide a. switching apparatus,the operation of which is unaffected by any changes .in temperature "or"atmospheric pressure which otherwise would change the operatingcharacteristics of the switching apparatus.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 11 :is a view in elevation and :partly in section of theswitching apparatus of this inven-' tion;

Fig. "2 is a bottom plan Wiewoi one of the "elements iorming'thewitching apparatus of Fig. 1; and

Fig. '3 is a top plan view, slightly reduced, or another .of the.elements utilized in .iorming the switching apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. -1, this invention :isillustrated by reference to aswitching apparatus 40. The switching ap-'paratus comprises a suitable base member 12 on which a plurality ofconductor members or leaves H are stacked in spaced relation andmaintained in spaced relation by means of a plurality ofspacer membersl6 disposed adjacent the conductor leaves. At the upper end of thealternate stackedassembly .of the conductor leaves [4 and the spacermembers 15, there is ,positioneda suitable stop member 18 whichcarriesebellows '20 which functions as agas chamber.

The construction of the switching apparatus ill formed of thealternately stacked conductor leaves l4 and spacer members It is moreclearly described .in my copending application, now issued as*Patent No.2,307,535, the construction therein described being made by reference toa part'o'f this specification. However, in order'that the constructionutilized in this invention is understood, a brief -description of "theelements is given.

The conductor members are of any suitable material, such asstainlesssteel-or the like, and

are of an elongated rectangular shape having-one end tapered to providea terminal or tap to which leads maybe connected.

members l4. Preferably the spacer members 16 are formed of fibrousmaterial impregnated with or carrying a film of 'thermo-plastic resinousbonding-material. I

In building the stack, the conductor members are stacked alternatelywith the spacer members '16 on the base member [2 with the "conductormembers H sodisposed that the terminal or tsp of each succeedingconductor member extends outwardly from a different side of theassembly, with the terminal being adjacent one edge of the substantiauyrectangularly shaped conductor member. By reversing every fifthconductor member in the stack, it is possible to provide eight stacks ofthe sta gered terminals extending outwardly from the stacked assembly.Each of the spaced conductor members 14 is also provided with a centralopening which cooperates with the openingof the spacer members It whenalternately stacked therewith to provide 'a well "22. Reinforcing rodsof fibrous insulating material are als'crprovied and disposed in spacedrelation about the well 22 and extend through suitable openings in theconductor members M and the spacer members 16 with their opposite endsterminating in recesses in the base member f! and the-topmember 18.

h bellows 26 secured to an outwardly extending flange member '28 isdisposed to be secured tothe base member 12. The bellows 261's of thesame size and has the same area as the upper bellows 20. As illustrated,the flange member 28 Ihefispacer members l6 are of any suitable Iinsulating material which can be bonded to the conductor members 14 andthe base member]? and top member l8, and which will maintain apredetermined space "between the conductor "is secured to the flange "3Bof-the base member ll by means '0! a iibrous'gasket '32 of insulatingmaterial "impregnated or coated with the same thermoplastic bondingmedium which is employed inconjunction with the spacer members 16. Boththetop-membcr land the base membar 1 2 have openings 34 and 35,respectively, disposed in alignment with the well 2! cf the -stack,theopening '36 extending through the base member I2 to the space betweenthe bellows and the downwardly extending elongated portion of "the basemember l2.

The bellows 20,-carried by the top member I8, is secured to an annularrim 38cm its uppersurface asby welding (not shown) so as to provide aleakproof joint therebetween. The upperv end of the bellows 2D 'isformedof a substantially heavy plate '48 WhlChlS sealed to the upper edge ofthe bellows as by welding. This 'plate 40 carries a downwardlyprojecting valve member t2 which, in-the normal operative position forthe bellows 28, as illustrated in Fig. '1, is spaced from the upperendof the :well .22. This'valve As thus constructed 'and mounted, anychange I in the atmospheric pressure or a change inthetemperature. willefi'ect the operation of the switching apparatus Hl, sinceIthevolumeofthe is provided for facilitating the shipping of the members l6and the gasket 32 -to bond the difierent elements into an integralleakproof structure. When bonded in this mannergit is found that thebonding material flows to and firmly bonds the j reinforcing members 24in the assembly as well as individual conducting members and bottommember. As thus sealed, the stack assembly, is

resistant to mechanical shock and is leakproof.

' When sealed as described hereinbefore, the

I weI l Z Zandthespace in thebellows 26' and the gas chamber formed bythe bellows 29 are evacuat'ed and a predetermined quantity of liquidconducting material such as mercury-4561s introduced into the bellows 26and the well 22 through the duct 44 provided in the top of the bellows26. A gas, such as hydrogen, capable oi reducing arcing is thenintroduced into the upper bellows 28 andfthe well 22 above the mercury,after which the duct 45 is sealed off as illustrated as by means ofsoldering.

Thesealed and filed assembly iormed -bythe alternately.- stacked membersand the opposed sealed bellows is disposed to be mounted on a panel(notshown) or some. other supporting member as bymeans of the flange lfifwhichis secured to the base member [2 by the bolts 50. Normally, theswitching apparatus is? disposed to beoperated as by means, of a drivingmember 52 which is secured at one of its ends-in any suitable manner tothe bottom of the lower bellows 26. A force applied to the bellows 26,in response positioning the cross bar. I

ings 6% and it are also provided and are in align to some predeterminedcondition thus actuates Q the mercury in the bellowsz fiupwardly throughA the well 22 to progressively bridge the conductor members l4.Of'course, asthemercury 46 is forced upwardly through thewell 22, thegasin the-Well and bellows above the mercury i displaced from. the well22and forced-into the belgas above the mercury is clirectlyafiected bysuch changes. For example, an increase in the temperature of the gasabove themercury column in the well 22 causesan expansion of the gas toin- I creas'ethe pressure on the mercury column and te'ndfto elongate Iboth the bellows 2e and 2s, whereas. an increase in atmospheric pressureapplies an a'dditionalforce to the bellows tend- I ing to force themercury higher inthewell.

I nL order to -maintain the operation of; the switching apparatusunafiected by changes in temperature and/or atmospheric pressure, the

; opposed bellows wand 26. are con'nected'externally 10f the s tackassembly to hold or maintain Y the, bellows inthe same operativeposition relative"to'each'otherregardless of the changein temperature oratmospheric pressure; a

base of the bellows 2%. The cross bar 58 is so constructed as tocooperate with the upper bellows 253 as to apply a force thereto aboutthe annular rim E3 of 'the bellows 2G in alignment with the force whichmay be applied through the cross bar 54. I I

Referring to Fig. 2, the crossbar 53 is illustrated as having a largecentral opening 60 which, when the cross bar 5%: is positioned inoperative relation with the bellows 253, permits the duct M to projecttherethrough as illustrated in Fig. 1. In addition, the cross bar 53 isprovided with two downwardly projecting flange membersiiz and M whichare so shaped and p0- sitioned on the cross bar 56 as to just fitwithinthe annular rim of the bellows 2e to aid in A plurality. of openinentwith the openings of lug members it] and 72 which are carried on theouter periphery of the annular rim member 58 of the bellows 2G. Thecross bar Ethan thus be removably secured-to the bellows. 2% by meansof'the screw members M I and it, as. illustrated'in Fig. l. I a

When the switching-apparatus is. mounted in its operative position onthe panel (not shown), and the cross bar 5'5 is secured to the upperbellows the cross bars-54 andee are rigidly connected by means of thetie bar members 18 and 85 which extend through alignedcpenings inthecross bars and the support Q3. As illustrated in Fig. L the .tie barsl8 and 3d are secured to each the'cross bars Ei-land 55 and I maintainedintheir relative operative positions byimeans of theadjustable nuts 82and 8 mount- "ed on the end of each tie bar on opposite sides Inaddition to the nuts 82 and. "8 a locknut 85 may be provided on the endsof the cross bars.

of the tie bars to prevent accidentalturning of the nut 84. Thus, byadjusting the positions-of the nuts 82 and 2% and also the loci nut 85,any.

predetermined-force, either compression ortension, can be applied totheopposed bellows and 26 for any given temperature or atmosphericpressure, '-With the opposed bellows connected in this manner, when aforce is applied tothe apparatus through" the driver a positive equalmovement of the opposed bellows in the same direction relativetothestack'is obtained whereby the progressive b-ridgin'g of the contactmern bers Hlis effected. I I If a change in temperature is encountered,the

gas within the bellows 2E3 expands and applies a force to the column ofmercury as well as'the bellows 26. Since both the bellows 29 and 26 arerigidly connected together, neither of the bellows Zflnor moves relativeto one another and the column of m rcury maintains itselfat the sameheight within the well 22 and is unaffected byjthe change in thepressure of the gas -Likewise,

changes in the atmospheric pressure do not'af feet the height orthemercury'column within As illustratedjtheswitching apparatus is is"provided with a plurality of cross bars 54 and 55, the cross bar 54being preferably welded to the the well 22.,since the bellowsiill and.25 are rigidly connected together and the change in the atmospheric'pressure cannot be. transmitted"; to the a column of mercuryL Thus,for'any operative pee 'sition of the driver memberez the operation'ofthe switching apparatus'is substantially unaf iect'edby changes intemperatureor atmospheric pressure, the only medium for varyingtheheight of the mercury col'umn'being theforce applied to the'switching'apparatus through the driver 7 member 52, or by changing the forceapplied to the bellows by adjusting the setting of the nuts associatedwith the tie bolts. I

In my copending application, now issued as Patent No. 2,298,151, I havedisclosed and claimed a compensating switch apparatus in which meanseternal of the operating bellows is utilized for compensating for anychangesin temperature or atmospheric pressure. The compensated-switchingapparatus of this invention, however, is simpler in construction anddoes not require the adjustments during service which are 'sometmesnecessary in my prior compensated switching apparatus. f v

Although this invention has been'described with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof it is, of course, not to be limitedthereto ex cept in so far as is necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as myinventionz 1. In a sw tching apparatusa well. adapted toreceive conducting liquid, the well being formed or a stas s ofalternately disposed conductor members and insulating spacer membershaving aligned openings therein, opposed bellows disposed at the ends ofthe stack communicating with the well, means for Sealing the stack of ler atel disposed conductor members in spacer members and the opposed.bellows as and liouid leak-proof unit. a conductl d carried. one of thebellows, said One of the bellows bang dsnosed for operation deliver theconducting liquid into the wel at one of the stock to progressivelybridge the conduc or members, the other bellows bein disposed to c-sethe well. at the other end of the stack, a ca.,. ble of reducing ca d inthe well abovv the conducting liqu d, the as and the bellows beingafiected by changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure. and meansdisposed to connect the opposed bellows together to compensate forchanges in the gas and bellows in response to a change in thetemperature or atmospheric pressure to mainta n the operation of thesealed switching apparatus substantally unaffected by the changethe-temperature or atmospheric pressure.

2. In a switchin apparatus, well adapted to receive a conducting liquid,the well being formed of a stack of alternately disposed conductormembers and insulating spacer members having all nod openings there n,opposed bellows dis posed at the ends of the stack communicating withthe well, means for sealing the stack of alternately d sposed conductormembers and insulating spacer members and the op osed bellows into a gasand liquid leak-proof unit, a conducting liquid carried in one of thebellows. said one of the bellows being disposed for operation to deliverthe conducting liquid into the well at one end. of the stack toprogressively bridge the conductor members, the other bellows beingdisposed to close the well at the other end of the stack, a gas capableof reducing arcing carried in the well above the conducting liquid, thegas and bellows being affected by changes in temperature and atmosphericpressure, and means disposed to connect the opposed bellows and holdthem under a predetermined force at a predetermined temperature andatmospheric pressure, the connecting means maintaining the operation ofthe sealed switching apparatus substantalily unafiected by changes intemperature or atmospheric pressure.

3. In a switching apparatus, a. well adapted to I to receive aconducting lie receive a conducting liquid, the well being formed of astack of alternately disposed conductor members and insulating spacermembers having aligned openingstherein, oppose-d bellows disposed at theends of the stack communicating withthe well, means for sealing thestack of alternately disposed conductor members and insulating spacermembers and the opposed bellows into a gas and liquid leak-proof unit, aconducting liquid carried in one of the bellows, said one of the bellowsbeing disposed for operation to de liver the conducting liquid into thewell at one end ofthe stack to progressively bridge the conductormembers, the other bellows being disposed to close the well at the otherend of the stack, a gas capable of reducing arcing carried in thewellabove the conductin liquid, the gas and bellows being aifectedby changesin temperature and atmospheric pressure, means seated against the end ofeach of the opposed bellows for applying a force thereto, and meansdisposed to connect the force applying means and a ply a; force to theopposed bellows, the connecting means maintaining the operation of thesealed switching apparatus substantially unaffected by changes intemperature or atmospheric pressure. 4. Ina switching apparatus, a welladapted V uid. the well being formed of a stack of alternately disposedcondoctor members and insulating spacer member having aligned openingstherein, opposed bellows disposed at the ends of the stack communicatingwith the well, means for sealing the stack of alternately disposedconductor members and insulating spa cer members and the opposed bellowsintoa gas and liqu d leak-proof unit, a conducting liquid carried in oneof the bellows, said one of the bellows being disposed for operation todeliver the conducting liquid into the well at one end of the stack toprogressively bridge the conductor members. the other bellows beingdisposed to close the well at the other end of the stack, a gas capab eof reducing arcing carried in the well above the conducting liquid, thegas and bellows being affected by changes in temperature and atmosphericpressure, means seated against the'end of each of the opposed bellowsfor applying a force thereto, and means disposed to connect the forceapplying means and apply a force to the opposed bellows, the connectingmeans being adjustable for adjusting the force applied to the opposedbellows, the connecting means maintaining the operation of the sealedswitching apparatus substantially unafiected by changes in temperatureor atmospheric pressure.

5. In a switching apparatus, a well adapted to receive a conductingliquid, the well being formed of a stack of alternately disposedconductor members and insulating spacer members having aligned openingstherein, opposed bellows disposed at the ends of the stackcommunicatingwith the well, the opposed bellows having the same size and surfacearea, means for sealing the stack of alternately disposed conductormembers and insulating spacer members and the opposed bellows into a gasand liquid leak-proof unit, a conducting liquid carried in one of thebellows, said one of the bellows being disposed for operation to deliverthe conducting liquid into the well at one end of the stack toprogressively bridge the conductor members, the other bellows beingdisposed to close the well at the other end of the stack, a gas capableof reducing arcing carried in the well above the conducting liquid,

the gas and bellows being afiected by changes in 7 temperature andatmospheric pressure, and aligned means disposed to connect the opposedbellows together to compensate for changes in the gas and bellows inresponse to a change in the temperature or atmospheric pressure tomaintain the operation of the sealed switchin apparatus substantiallyunaffected by the change in the temperature or atmospheric pressure.

6. In a switching apparatus, a well adapted to receive a conductingliquid, the well being formed 'of a stack of alternately disposed conductor members and insulating spacer members having aligned openingstherein, opposed bellows disposed at the ends of the stack communicatinwith the well, the opposed'bellows having the same size and surfacearea, means for sealing thestack of alternately disposed conductormembers and insulating spacer members'and the opposed bellows into a gasand liquid leak-proof unit, a conducting liquid carried inone of thebellows, said one of the bellows being disposed for operation to deliverthe conducting liquid into the well at one end of the stack toprogressively bridge the conductor members, the other bellows beingdisposed to close the well at the ratus substantially unafiected bychanges in temperature or atmospheric pressure.

7Q In a switching apparatus, a well adapted to receive a conductingliquidjthe well being formed of a stack of alternately disposedconductor members and insulating spacer members having aligned openingstherein, opposed bellows disposed at the ends of the stack communicatingother end of the stack, a gas capable of reducing 7 V arcing carried inthe wellabove the conducting l liquid, the gas and bellows beingaffected by' changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure,- andaligned means disposed to connect the opposed bellows together, theconnecting means being so rigid as to prevent simultaneous expansion orcontraction of the opposed bellows and to efiect equal movements of theopposed bellows in i the same direction relativeto the stackitomaintainthe operation of the sealed switchingappawith the well, the opposedbellows having the same size and surface area, means for sealing thestack of alternately disposed conductor members and insulating spacermembers and'the op posed bellows into a gas and liquid leak proof unit,a conducting liquid carried in one of the bellows, said one of thebellows being disposed for operation to delveir the conductingliquidinto the well at one end of the stack to progressively opposedbellows, the connecting means also being so rigid, as to' preventsimultaneous expansion or contraction of the opposed bellowsv and toeifect equal movement of the opposed bellows in the same directionrelative to the stack to maintain theoperation of the sealed switchingapparatus substantially unaffected by changes in temperature oratmospheric pressure.

. KI RK A. OPLI NGER. 7' v

